Minnesota Vikings Coach Suspended For Homophobic Remark

It looks like former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe has been vindicated...to an extent.

Kluwe previously accused Vikings special teams coach Mike Priefer of making homophobic remarks to players and Kluwe maintained that the Vikings' decision to release the punter from the team was based on his pro-gay advocacy work.

An investigation into Kluwe's claims has resulted in confirmation that Priefer did make at least one homophobic statement.

The Minnesota Vikings said Friday that special teams coach Mike Priefer will be suspended for the opening three games of the coming season after an investigation confirmed that he made a homophobic remark to players.

The investigation, carried out by two Minneapolis attorneys, followed allegations made by former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe.

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Priefer repeatedly and vehemently denied the allegations, but the team's investigation concluded that the coach made a "single homophobic statement to Kluwe."

Vikings long snapper Cullen Loeffler confirmed Kluwe's account that Priefer once said, "We should round up all the gays, send them to an island, and then nuke it until it glows." Priefer owned up to the remark after Loeffler's confirmation, according to a summary of the report that was released by the team.

Following the investigation, Priefer apologized to "the Wilf family, the Minnesota Vikings organization and fans, my family, the LGBT community, Chris Kluwe and anyone else that I offended with my insensitive remark."

So while it's now been established that Priefer is a liar, investigators have still determined that the Vikings have been honest in their assertion that Kluwe was released from the team based on his declining performance on the field rather than his outspoken advocacy work.

From Talking Points:

However, the investigators concluded that Kluwe was not released due to his activism, citing testimonials from other NFL talent-evaluators who agreed that the veteran punter's form had declined in his final season with the Vikings.

"There is consistent and weighty evidence from the record, mostly from Kluwe himself, that he viewed his performance as a member of the Vikings in an inflated manner," the report said.

It continued, "No interviewed witness agreed that Kluwe had a good year in 2012."

Kluwe and his attorney have revealed plans to file a lawsuit against the Minnesota Vikings next week, where they'll seek $10 million in damages. Kluwe says he'll donate all of that money to charity.